Before the NFL dream, before the ACL rehab, and before the Saints gave him a shot, Travion “Tra” Fluellen was just a kid growing up in Gilmer, Texas — one of nine siblings in a competitive household. With five brothers and three sisters, he learned early how to carve out space, stand his ground, and fight for what he wanted. “Everything was a competition in the house,” Tra said, as he laughed. “Whether it was who ate the most or who ran the fastest, you had to earn it.”
That competitive edge carried over to the football field, where Tra played under the lights of East Texas high school football — a region known for producing tough athletes.
Tra received just one big offer out of high school, and that was from Houston Baptist University. He took it and went to play there.
From All-Conference to ACL Rehab
Tra Fluellen made the most of his opportunity at Houston Baptist, turning heads with a strong showing early in his college career. He became a versatile weapon on defense, showing off his ball-hawking skills and instincts as a playmaker. But even with a solid season at HBU under his belt, Tra knew he needed a bigger stage to elevate his game and his future.
In 2020, Tra transferred to Middle Tennessee State, betting on himself once again. At MTSU, Fluellen’s game reached another level. He was more than just a defensive back — he was a difference-maker. He returned kicks, made open-field tackles, and found the end zone more than once with pick-sixes that electrified the crowd.
Opposing quarterbacks started throwing away from his side of the field. Coaches across the conference took notice. By his senior season, Tra had earned All-Conference honors and positioned himself as a legitimate NFL prospect.
But then came game nine.
Late in the season, just as draft boards were starting to light up with his name, Fluellen tore his ACL. One play. One injury. And everything changed.
“I felt like everything was gone,” he said. “All the momentum, all the buzz — just gone in a second.” The year that was supposed to lead to the NFL became a test of everything he built. But instead of dwelling in disappointment, Tra flipped the switch. Almost immediately, he committed himself to rehab, recovery, and the long road back.
“I just had to keep hope alive,” he said. “Even if nobody was watching, I knew I couldn’t stop.”
The Silence After the Storm: Real Life, Real Grind
After the ACL tear, everything went quiet. The calls stopped. The hype faded.
Tra Fluellen went from projected mid-round NFL draft pick to forgotten name on a list of injured prospects. “It was hard, man,” he admitted. “I went from feeling like I was right there to feeling like nobody even remembered I existed.” Despite the silence, Tra refused to give in.
While working to return to peak form, Tra picked up jobs at Dillard’s and Amazon, balancing retail shifts and delivery routes with workouts and therapy sessions. It wasn’t glamorous — it was real life.
The Big News
Last winter, as Tra was delivering some packages, he received a phone call — it was the New Orleans Saints.
The Saints signed Tra to their practice squad at the end of the 2024 season. For weeks he was getting mid-season reps and working hard, as he had done his whole life. He was learning from veterans like Tyrann Mathieu and more.
Fluellen would stay on the practice squad through a majority of the offseason. In June, the Saints waived Tra.
He is not giving up on his dream, however, as he is waiting for another team to pick him up so he can get right back to work. “Coach [Kellen] Moore just told me to keep my head high and that there will be another team picking me up.”
Like many athletes working day-in and day-out for their shot at making it in professional sports, Tra’s story is filled with grit and the determination to never give up.
Watch for Tra Fluellen to make his mark on the NFL again soon.
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